Thymio Mousetrap Mission Key Concepts

Design a creative mousetrap with Thymio and explore how robotics, programming, and problem-solving work together! This lesson focuses on invention, testing, and improvement:

• Design and build a mouse trap system using Thymio and simple materials.
• Experiment with different ideas to catch a moving toy mouse without using your hands.
• Use VPL3 or Scratch to control timing, movement, and actions.
• Advanced: Analyze and improve your design after testing different solutions.
• Advanced: Create a pixel puzzle to design your own 2D mouse character.

Lesson Overview

In this lesson, students will:

1. Design and build their own mousetrap using available materials.
2. Test different methods to catch the toy mouse.
3. Watch example solutions and compare approaches.
4. Improve their design based on testing and new ideas.

By the end of this lesson, students will understand how creative problem-solving and programming can be used to design real-world solutions.

Important Notes:

Do not use your hands or the remote control. The trap must work using design and programming only.

Tips for this Lesson:

1. Start with a simple idea and test it quickly.
2. Think about timing and movement when designing your trap.
3. Observe what works and what doesn’t, then adjust.
4. Be creative, there are many possible solutions!

Products/Materials

The following products and resources can be used in this lesson:

FUN FACT!

Did you know that engineers often build and test multiple prototypes before finding the best solution? Trial and error is a key part of real-world problem-solving!

Download the Lesson PDF Files Below:

Check out the video tutorial/solutions below: